Marching Band & Guard Wins Yamaha Championship

The Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard was awarded first place in Class V Open during the 2012 Yamaha Cup Marching Band Championship on Saturday, October 13. Performing under the lights in a Jets-dressed Met Life Stadium in Rutherford, N.J., the 125-member band won accolades for their performance of “Arcanum,” a spy caper in four parts, to best the competition in the US Bands event.

In addition to winning first place, Newtown was awarded Best Music, Best Effect, Best Visual, and Best Guard honors. In regard to the 27 members of the NHS color guard, Guard Judge Charles Brown noted that “it doesn’t get any better than this” while he enjoyed Newtown’s performance.

Fifty-nine bands participated in the Yamaha Cup from across New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. Newtown was awarded the fifth highest score of the night, an 84.675, earning higher marks than other such notable bands as Scotch Plains Fanwood High School, which won the higher Class VI A level, and Trumbull High School, which competes in the higher Class VI Open level.

On Saturday, October 20, the Newtown High School Marching Band and Guard will compete at Shelton High School in a Musical Arts Conference (MAC) competition. The first band competes at 6 pm with Newtown closing the show at 8:45, and awards to follow.